Now as she touched the book she said almost beneath her breath the collect her mother had always added to her prayers ever since she was tiny,
“Lighten our darkness we beseech Thee, O Lord, and by Thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night – ”
As Candida murmured the beautiful words that were so familiar, so much a part of her childhood, she felt the tears start into her eyes. She could go no further. She covered her face with her hands.
“Oh, Mama! Mama!” she cried. “Help me! Where am I to go? What am I to do? I love him – I love him – but he hates me! He no longer wants me here. Help me. Mama! What will happen to me? I am so alone.”
Candida’s prayer died away in her tears and then suddenly it seemed as if her mother was beside her.
She felt as though it was n
